Weather across the nation: 3/1/13

The eastern half of the nation saw a chilly day on Friday with widespread snow showers.

A ridge of high pressure that built over the East continued to push cold air in from Canada. At the same time, a weak trough of low pressure moved through the ridge. These systems in combination allowed for widespread scattered snow showers to develop from the Mid-Mississippi River Valley through the Ohio and Tennessee Valleys.

Most areas saw a dusting of snow with accumulation from 1 to 2 inches, while some areas saw periods of freezing rain as temperatures warmed up during the afternoon. Higher elevations of the Central Appalachians saw up to 3.5 inches of new snow.

Daytime highs ranged in the 30s to lower 40s, which is about 10 to 20 degrees below seasonable for the region. Frost and freeze advisories have been issued for the Southeast as overnight and early morning low temperatures dropped to near freezing.

Meanwhile, in the West, a trough of low pressure moved over the Northern Rockies and triggered widespread scattered snow showers. Isolated areas across Montana and Idaho saw around 1 inch of new snow.

Farther west, a system over British Columbia brought more rain and mountain snow showers to Washington. Midday rainfall totals ranged around a half-inch. High pressure over the rest of the West Coast and Southwest created offshore flow and warming temperatures. High temperatures ranged from the mid-60s to mid-70s for much of California.

ON THIS DATE....... The most devastating avalanches in United States history occurred on this date in 1910 at Wellington, Wash. Two Great Northern trains including steam locomotives and passenger cars carrying 96 people were pushed over a ledge at Stevens Pass by the avalanche.